FAQ

Using the generator

If you don't like the foods the generator gives you, you can change the foods by clicking the "generator options" button on the right side of the home page.

To prevent the generator from changing something, click the lock next to it. You can close off an entire meal, or individual foods inside of a meal. The generator will then try to fill out the rest of your meal plan to meet your targets.

If you want to customize further, add specific foods from the food bank into the meal you want them in. Type a query into the search bar to see more options. Clearing your search query will show the quick list and custom foods again.

What’s the point of this site?

This site’s main purpose is to help you put together a diet with your desired micronutrient proportions. Controlling your macronutrient breakdown is the basis of several diets (including the Atkins and Zone diets), and is well grounded in nutrition science. If you've ever tried to do make a custom diet plan by hand, you know that it's a pain in the ass.

The current version of the generator is a little whacky, but I'm constantly working on improving it. Follow me on twitter to find out when I update!

How many calories should I be eating?

There's a calorie calculator that you can find by clicking the "Not Sure?" button under the calorie input field. The suggestions for weight gain and weight loss intakes are simply a percentage above and below the maintenance calories. Some people suggest just eating either 500 calories above or below the maintenance depending on whether you want to gain or lose weight.

If you have the patience, the best thing you can do is to watch your calorie intake and slowly adjust it week by week to see how it affects your progress. Keeping a log of what you eat and your weight will help you track it along the way.

Where do your foods come from? Can I add my own?

The foods all come from a USDA food database. If you log in, you can add your own foods by clicking the "Custom foods" label in the food bank bar.

What are your qualifications?

I have no qualifications whatsoever. If you have any special needs in your diet, it is up to you or a qualified nutritionist to make sure those are met. The meal plans this site generates are random and meant more to show you what a meal plan of however many calories you enter should look like.

Does that mean you can’t use the generated meal plan as a real diet? Not at all. I mostly just don’t want you to sue me.